Automobile body



July 7, 1931.- F. J. KUBLER AUTOMOBILE BODY Filedl sept. 22. 1928 Patented `luly 7, 19.31

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK zr. KUBLEE, or NEW YOEK, N. Y., ASSTGNCE To A. s. CAMPBELL COMPANY,

or EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COEPoRATroN OF MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMOBILE BODY Application filed September 22, 1928. Serial No. 307,690.

This invention relates to automobile'bodies and the object is to provide an improved structure for the same which facilitates securing in position a body panel which lies adjacent a door opening defined by a body pillar rising above the belt line, at least the projecting portion of such pillar being of metal construction.

The invention finds a particular applica- 1o tion in the case of a cowl panel, and by way of example I have herein illustrated'such application and will describe it in detail in the appended description.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary broken-away perspective view of a partly completed automobile body, the left hand or nigh forward corner being shown, with certain separable parts displaced from the position which they oc- 2o cupy in the completed structure; and

Fig. 2 is a section of the completed structure on the plane of the line 2-2 of. Fig. 1.

In the drawings I have shown the forward corner of a vehicle (at the usual location of the windshield) in which the forward posts or pillars rising above the belt line are of metallic construction. Herein the body as a whole is of composite construction and is provided with a wooden framework at the cowl .':O'comprising an upright 5 at either side connected by a cowl bar 7. Secured to the rear face of the upright 5 below the belt is the main body portion of the top supporting pillar which is formed of suitable metal, as, for example, a forging, and comprises a general web-like section 9 disposed as a whole rearwardly of the rear face of the framework, but which may be provided with suitable stiffening flanges, as, for example, 11 herein shown. The design may desirably be such that the flanges may have various utili tarian functions in addition to reinforcement. The web 9 is secured to the roof of the vehicle by suitable anchoring arms 18 and the lower portion 15 which lies against the rear face of the upright 5 is, as best shown in Fig. 2, of substantially web-like form and its vouter edge is spaced inwardly from the rear outer corner of the upright 5. f The body may be framed, conveniently by means of a suitable jig, and the pillar 9 permanently secured in its fina-l position. The body is then ready for the application of the cowl panel 17. l This is fitted into position, in the present example around the framework formed by the uprights 5 and cowl bar 7, and the edge may be pressed or swaged down and nailed tothe bar 7 at the front of the pillarv section 9 and the sides of the panel flanged4 over on the rear face of the uprights 5, as shown in dotted lines at 19 in Fig', 1, the edge being' received as seen in Fig. 2 in the rabbet which the attaching' portion 15 of the metallic pillar element defines with the rear face of the. upright 5. This flanged over edge 19 is preferably nailed to the wooden member.

After the cowl panel has thus been fitted into place, the edge thereof which is presented to the front of the web of the pillar body 9 may be covered by a removable finishing piece 21 secured against the forward face of said body member 9 this being the face having theflange 11 and completing the contour of the upper section of the pillar, that is, the part projecting above ythe belt. In the example of the invention shown the lower end ofthe member 21 overlies the cowl panel 17 and cowl bar 7 directly in front of the body member. The edge of the cowl panel at the rear of the upright 5 may be covered by a metallic member 23 applied over the same and screwed to the upright 5. This member 23, as best shown in Fig. 2, is adapted substantially to fill the rabbet referred to, which is defined by the section 15 and the rear face of the upright, but preferably does not extend to the exterior face of the body, but terminates inwardly thereof to provide a rabbet 25 to receive a door overlap liange.

rr l.

The member 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is adapted to mate with the adjacent portion l5 of the pillar member and the rear faces of this portion and of the member 23 constitute a amb face for the door frame at the door joint.

The construction just described is an eX- ample of the provision of suitable means for securing the edge of a body panel to a wooden frame in connection wth a body pillar element of metallic construction.` The process of construction is simple andl the. resulting job is of seemly and workman; like appearance. It will be noted that the roof supportingpillar may be framed: in the job permanently and thereafter the panel fitted into place and the job completed withY the handling of only small and easily attached pieces, and that the solidity andaccuracy of the framing job as a whole are not impaired even temporarily. during the operav tionsof securing the panel.

Il' am aware that the invention may be em.-

bodied in other specific forms withoutde-V parting' from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and II therefore desirethe present embodiment to be considered in all; respects as illustrative and not restrictive; ref.-

erence being' had toy the appended claimsv rather than to the foregoing description. to indicatetlie scope of. the invention.Y

Claims:

l. A vehicle body having alwoodenffram ing member at the cowl, `a metallictopfsup.- porting pillar comprising a web-like portion. attached" to the rear side of: said framing? inwardly of the outer side thereof and. pro.- jecting above the same to the roof, a cowl:

panel: having its edges shaped. about said; framing and separable pieces cooperatingl with said web-like portion respectively.' to.L provide a jamb face below thebelt and t` complete the contour of the upperportionof the pillar and overlying the'edges of. saidi panel adjacent said member.

2. in a vehicle body ai metallic top-supporting pillar extending from the roof'to below the belt line, a woden member associated' therewith below the belt line and projecting outwardly of the same, a panel` havingitsV edge flanged about the projecting Vportion of saidmember, and a removable coveringstrip` overlying said edge and cooperating with the adjacent part of said pillar to-provide aamb'. face.v

3. in a vehicle body a. wooden upright at' a side ofl a door opening, a. metallic top-supe. portingpillar having aportion extending/- over said upright at the side towardrthe door and secured-thereto in spaced relationto the outer face of said upright, abody panel havlng-its edge flanged around said uprightA and' a removable covering strip overlying said' edge and cooperating withA said portion to.

provide ajamb face.

4. A vehicle body having a wooden frame member at the cowl below the belt, a metallic top supporting pillar having a web-llke lower portion lapping on and secured to the rear face of said frame member but in spaced relation to the rear outer corner thereof, a cowl panel having its edge flanged over said corner onto said face and a piece secured over said edge and mating with said web-like portion to provide a jamb face.

In. testimony` whereof, I. have signed my nametofthis s 'ecication F EDERICK J. KUBLER. 

